Ottawa Airport, police launch partnership to combat human trafficking

Ottawa Police Service Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson speaks at the Ottawa International Airport on Thursday, July 31, 2026. Ottawa police and the Ottawa International Airport are partnering with #NotInMyCity to combat human trafficking. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service and Ottawa International Airport are partnering with the organization Not In My City to combat sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Ottawa.

The Not In My City organization was founded in 2017 by Canadian country music artist Paul Brandt, and says its purpose is to “find and fill gaps to end exploitation and human trafficking in Canada” through education, awareness and collective action.

The partnership between Ottawa police, the airport and #NotInMyCity will focus on staff training and ongoing public education to “help recognize the signs of human trafficking and understand how to report it safely.”

“By partnering with the Ottawa Police Service and the Ottawa Airport, we’re helping more people recognize the signs and speak up when something doesn’t look right. With knowledge comes prevention — and human trafficking often hides in plain sight,” Brandt said.

The president and CEO of the Ottawa International Airport said safety and security have “always been a core value for YOW.”

“By joining Not In My City, we are reinforcing that commitment. We are proud to stand with the Ottawa Police Service, Not In My City, and our tourism and community partners in saying clearly that human trafficking has no place in our airport, our community or our city,” Susan Margles said.

Ottawa police say the Human Trafficking Unit reviewed 266 police reports of possible human trafficking between Jan. 1, 2023 and July 24, 2026. Of those reports, 20 investigations resulted in 244 criminal charges were laid.

Police say a new reporting category introduced this year to capture human trafficking-related information where no human trafficking offence was identified found 152 occurrences in Ottawa.

“Human trafficking doesn’t always look the way we expect, and victims are not always hidden from view,” police said.

The Ottawa Police Service said possible indicators of human trafficking may include a person who:

• Is not permitted to speak for themselves or is repeatedly interrupted by a companion
• Provides vague, inconsistent, or rehearsed details about their travel
• Does not possess or control their own identification or travel documents
• Is unable to explain their destination, accommodations, or travel arrangements
• Has very few personal possessions for the planned journey
• Appears fearful, anxious, submissive, exhausted, injured, or in need of medical attention
• Appears to be closely monitored, directed, threatened, or controlled by another person